TWO former Bournemouth mayors who were stalwarts in the community have died within days of each other.

Michael Green, who died aged 92, was the town’s first citizen from 1968-69, while Jim Courtney held the post from 1999-2000.

Mr Green served for many years as a Conservative on Bournemouth Borough Council and Dorset County Council and was chairman of Bournemouth Airport from 1968-85.

He went on to be awarded the OBE after 15 years of chairing the Southern Tourist Board. He was a hotelier and publican who spoke for the local Licensed Victuallers Association and was president of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade.

Among a long list of roles, he was president of Bournemouth Football Supporters Club and Cancer Research Bournemouth branch, founded the 896 Club for latchkey kids and chaired Bournemouth Heart Club.

Jim Courtney, who has died aged 85, was a long-serving Bournemouth firefighter who tackled the big heath fires of the summer of 1976, and the Bournemouth bus station fire the same year, before becoming a councillor.

The Tory councillor was a lifelong Cherries fan and lover of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

His mayoral duties included welcoming Tony Blair to Bournemouth for the 1999 Labour conference, then the biggest political event in Europe.

Former council leader Cllr Bob Chapman said: “He was a well-respected member of the council. He was very supportive of me in the time I was leader and again when I was mayor. We knew since his retirement he has not enjoyed very good health.”

Full tributes will follow in the Daily Echo's obituaries section.